FAQ
Meatloaf is one of those classic comfort foods you really don’t want to have to give up when you start a healthy diet. But since it is typically made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef, pork and veal, meatloaf can be very high in fat, calories and sodium. Delicious? Yes. Healthy? Not exactly. Here’s the good news: With a few easy substitutions and your air fryer, you can still enjoy all the things you love about meatloaf, including the savory flavor and the tender texture, without totally sabotaging your weight loss journey.
A Healthier Easy Meatloaf Recipe
One quick substitution is making a healthy turkey meatloaf! By using lean ground turkey instead of beef, for instance, you can easily create a low calorie meatloaf with just as much taste and flavor as the “original.” That’s the approach we took with this Home-Cooked Turkey Meatloaf and the result was absolutely delicious. For a vegetarian version, you can use crumbled walnuts or even lentils (stand by for these recipes… they’re coming soon!).
Here at The Leaf Weight Loss Blog, we have lots of great options for comfort food lovers who are trying to stay healthy. And now, we are adding one more to the list.
This Easy Air Fryer Meatloaf is one of our favorite recipes ever. It is very, very close in taste to a traditional meatloaf because we use lean ground beef. The other ingredients—onions, eggs, breadcrumbs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper—are also pretty standard.
While the ingredient list isn’t much of a deviation, cooking it in an air fryer gives it a flavor and texture that is, in our opinion, a cut above classic meatloaf recipes. Which is pretty awesome considering that cooking anything in an air fryer is just so easy.
Did you know that an air fryer can help you lose weight? Click here to learn more! >
How to Make Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
To whip up this Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe, get started by preheating your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. While the air fryer is warming up, you will combine all of the ingredients with the exception of one tablespoon of ketchup.
Once the ingredients are well blended, you’ll use your hands to mold the mixture into a nice loaf shape, then place it into the greased air fryer basket. Then you’ll set the loaf to cook for 15 minutes.
Once the 15 minutes is up, spread the remaining tablespoon of ketchup across the top of the meatloaf and place it back in the basket to cook for another 10 minutes. That’s it! Your Air Fryer Meatloaf is ready to enjoy. Just be sure to let the meatloaf sit for five to 10 minutes before serving so it’s not piping hot.
Healthy Hacks
We love serving this Air Fryer Meatloaf on busy weeknights. Since it makes six servings, it’s a quick and easy dinner idea that’s great for family meals.
At the Leaf, we love the healthy benefits of whole grains. For this healthy meatloaf recipe, we’ll usually pair it with some whole grain rice. We love mixing brown rice with cilantro and fresh squeezed lime juice. You can also try brown rice with some Parmesan cheese, cheesy broccoli or roasted Brussels sprouts for a well-rounded Flex Meal that’s so delicious, it’s hard to believe it’s healthy.
Still confused about preparing Flex meals? We’ve got everything you need to know right here! >
For those calorie counters among us, this low fat meatloaf recipe clocks in under 160 calories per serving. Who knew you could get all the mouthwatering flavor of traditional meatloaf for fewer calories than most protein bars!
Speaking of protein, one serving has nearly 18 grams of the muscle-building stuff. That’s a pretty substantial protein boost for a comfort food meal. So great, in fact, that this low calorie meatloaf fulfills one PowerFuel requirement (and also one Extra!) for those on a Nutrisystem weight loss plan.
Still a little confused by the whole PowerFuel and SmartCarb concept? We’ve got you covered in the helpful article below!:
All About Nutrisystem Grocery Add-Ins
Read More
Don’t forget, if you come up with your own delicious and healthy air fryer recipe, we want to know about it! We have an easy Recipe Submission Form right here on The Leaf Weight Loss Blog. Just click here to submit your delicious creations! >
More Easy and Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
If you are on the hunt for more awesome air fryer recipes, we’ve definitely got you covered. From Air Fryer French Fries to Air Fryer Potato Chips, we’ve got something to please every palate. Here are some of our most popular air fryer recipes of all time (just click on the recipe name to check out the full recipe):
- Air Fryer Salt and Vinegar Chips >
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries >
- Air Fryer Baked Apple >
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Tots >
- Air Fried Mozzarella Sticks >
- Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Bites >
- Air Fryer Southwestern Egg Rolls >
*Please note that all air fryers cook differently. Before trying any recipe, always refer to the manufacturer safety instructions provided with your specific air fryer.
Now that you’ve got a whole slew of new air fryer recipes to try, here is our delicious Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe:
Servings: 6
Calories per Serving: 155
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ¼ onion, chopped
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
Directions:
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F.
- Combine all ingredients except for 1 tablespoon of ketchup.
- Shape mixture into a loaf and place in greased air fryer basket.
- Cook for 15 minutes.
- Spread remaining ketchup on top of the loaf, then continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
- Let the loaf sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- *Please note that all air fryers cook differently. Before trying any recipe, always refer to the manufacturer safety instructions provided with your specific air fryer.
